The Impossible Thing - by Belinda Bauer (Hardcover)

About the Book

"From the exceptionally original mind of Booker Prize-longlisted author Belinda Bauer, a sweeping tale of obsession, greed, ambition, and a crime that has remained unsolved for a hundred years. 1926. On the cliffs of Yorkshire, men are lowered on ropes to steal the eggs of the sea birds who nest there. The most beautiful are sold for large sums. A small girl-penniless and neglected by her family-retrieves one such treasure. Its discovery will forever alter the course of her life. A century later. In a remote cottage in Wales, Patrick Fort finds his friend, Nick, and his mother tied up and robbed. The only thing missing: a carved case containing an incredible scarlet egg. Doggedly attempting to retrieve it, Patrick and Nick discover the cruel world of egg trafficking, and soon find themselves on the trail of a priceless collection of eggs long lost to history. Until now. Taut and wonderfully imagined, The Impossible Thing asks, how do you find something that doesn't exist?"--

Book Synopsis

A New York Times and Guardian Best Thriller of the Year

A Deadly Pleasures and Minnesota Star Tribune Best Book of the Year

"A cliffhanger of a tale . . . Around the mystery of the fate of the so-called Metland Egg, Bauer constructs a multigenerational drama as captivating as the fabled object itself . . . rich in humor and suspense."--Wall Street Journal

From the exceptionally original mind of CWA Gold Dagger Award winner and Booker longlisted author Belinda Bauer, a sweeping tale of obsession, greed, ambition, and a crime that has remained unsolved for a hundred years

How do you find something that doesn't exist?

1926. On the cliffs of Yorkshire, men are lowered on ropes to steal the eggs of the sea birds who nest there. The most beautiful are sold for large sums. A small girl--penniless and neglected by her family--retrieves one such treasure. Its discovery will forever alter the course of her life.

A century later. In a remote cottage in Wales, Patrick Fort finds his friend, Nick, and his mother tied up and robbed. The only thing missing: a carved case containing an incredible scarlet egg. Doggedly attempting to retrieve it, Patrick and Nick discover the cruel world of egg trafficking, and soon find themselves on the trail of a priceless collection of eggs lost to history. Until now.

A taut, wonderfully imagined novel brimming with skullduggery at every turn, The Impossible Thing is a blazing testament to Belinda Bauer's status as one of our greatest living crime writers.

Review Quotes

Praise for The Impossible Thing:

A New York Times and Guardian Best Thriller of the Year

A Deadly Pleasures and Minnesota Star Tribune Best Book of the Year

A Barry Award finalist for Best Mystery Novel

"Enthralling."--Becky Meloan, Washington Post

"Suspenseful, charming . . . [Bauer] is a sympathetic, playful writer, and she populates her book with as colorful an array of characters as you could hope for . . . Very exciting."--Sarah Lyall, New York Times

"If The Impossible Thing were a song, we'd call it a banger . . . a pure pleasure machine, all the moving parts of which are designed to delight . . . Bauer is a daring and confident writer . . . for this dazzling novelist, the hits just keep coming."--Chris Hewitt, Star Tribune

"The plot is unlike any I've read before and it will keep you entertained from the century-old thefts of the birds' eggs right up to the final suspenseful pages . . . Belinda Bauer does the near impossible thing, creating a fascinating, original, and charming story about egg trafficking . . . one of the best novels I've read this year."--Ted Hertel, Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine

"[A] well-crafted mystery, featuring intriguing characters . . . thoroughly researched and eye-opening . . . Recommended for anyone seeking an unconventional mystery with a unique and compelling premise."--Carolyn Scott, Mystery & Suspense

"Magnificently executed . . . [The Impossible Thing] has my vote for the most unusual crime novel in recent memory . . . Subplots abound . . . with the egg as the unvoiced yet central character of them all."--Bruce Tierney, BookPage (starred review)

"Bauer tugs at the heartstrings in this extraordinary literary mystery that unfolds across intersecting timelines . . . Bauer's deep empathy--for both her human characters and for the birds whose nests are looted--elevates the immersive and unpredictable plot. It's another winner from an impressively versatile writer."--Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"A time-slip mystery set in the compulsive, and nowadays illegal, world of bird egg collectors . . . Fans of Bauer know to expect something original from this most ingenious of crime writers, and newcomers will be delighted by a funny, moving and beautifully written tale of misfits and oological obsession."--Laura Wilson, The Guardian

"A time-twisting crime adventure story . . . the back-and-forth action is riveting."--Connie Fletcher, Booklist

"A convincing, atmospheric page turner . . . [with writing] reminiscent of Charles Dickens; wealth and poverty in contrast, conniving and benevolent characters at odds, everyone constrained by their social class. There is a lightness in the tone that belies the depth of the story. Bauer brings every character to life . . . every scene, every layer is engrossing . . . so good you won't want to put it down, and when you're finished you'll wish you could spend more time with [it]. A beautiful, beautiful piece of writing."--Crime Fiction Lover

"Beautifully told . . . one of those gems that slowly tightens its grip on you and then refuses to let go . . . Not without a couple of tear-jerking moments, ultimately this is a make-you-feel-good book."--Yvonne Eve, A Novelist Speaks

"A fascinating mixture of crime fiction, historical adventure, and intrigue that kept me madly turning the pages. I highly recommend this creative and clever read. For fans of unique stories and unforgettable characters."--Thoughts from a Page

"Belinda Bauer is a genius--she can turn any idea into a solid gold, suspenseful, immersive and intriguing story. This could be her best ever."--Lee Child, author of In Too Deep

"It's hard to overstate the absolute charm of The Impossible Thing. Remember the feeling of wonder the first time you fell in love with a book? This."--Val McDermid, author of Past Lying

"An extraordinary novel. Belinda Bauer writes so beautifully. There's a deceptive simplicity to The Impossible Thing that packs a real punch, and the characters and their stories have really stayed with me. Highly recommended!"--Ann Cleeves, author of The Raging Storm

"Part crime caper, part historical mystery, The Impossible Thing is one of the most enjoyable novels I've read in ages. Meticulously plotted and told with wit and heart, it is utterly distinctive and totally addictive."--Paula Hawkins, author of The Blue Hour

"I loved everything about The Impossible Thing: the effortless interweaving of the timelines, the flawed, interesting characters, the beautiful rendering of the historic setting and the natural world, and the twists and turns in the present day plot. Belinda's compelling exploration of man's obsession and the darkness that follows in its wake made me laugh and cry. A wonderful, brilliant mystery."--Laura Shepherd-Robinson, author of The Square of Sevens

"From the bestselling author of Snap comes a beguiling, wholly unique crime caper-cum-historical mystery which weaves thieves, myths, and unforgettable characters into a perfectly plotted masterpiece."--Mark Skinner, Waterstones

"I trust Belinda Bauer to write nothing but excellence."--Doreen Sheridan, Frumious Consortium

"An extraordinary, funny story . . . Bauer has an inimitable, captivating voice that pivots between breathtaking sadness and utter hilarity."--Shelf Awareness

"You will be hard pressed to find a more uniquely enjoyable read . . . Bauer demonstrates her storytelling prowess by crafting a narrative that is both historically fascinating and pulse-poundingly suspenseful . . . [She] masterfully thread[s] together the historical context of egg collecting with a contemporary mystery surrounding the collection and, more importantly, the audacious theft of exceptionally rare scarlet eggs . . . The book's unique premise, well-developed characters, and skillful narrative structure make it a standout in the thriller genre, leaving the reader thoroughly satisfied and perhaps with a newfound appreciation for the unusual passions that can drive human behavior. This is a book that will stay with you long after you turn the final page."--Steve Thomas, Best Thriller Books

"A captivating blend of historical drama and contemporary crime thriller . . . Whether you're a longtime fan of Belinda Bauer or new to her work, The Impossible Thing offers a compelling reading experience that combines the pleasures of historical fiction with the tensions of a modern thriller. It confirms Bauer's status as one of the most original voices in contemporary crime fiction."--Bookish Elf

"Belinda Bauer has always possessed an uncanny ability to merge the macabre with the mundane. [She] returns to this territory with aplomb, delivering a crime novel that spans a century and explores how a simple object--in this case, a blood-red guillemot egg--can inspire obsession, greed, and murder across generations. For a crime novel with depth, atmosphere, and a genuinely surprising conclusion, The Impossible Thing delivers magnificently. It's a rare achievement: a sequel that both honors and expands upon its predecessor while telling a story entirely its own."--Book CLB Blog

Praise for Belinda Bauer:

"Belinda Bauer is a marvel. Her novels are almost indecently gripping and enjoyable."--Sophie Hannah, New York Times bestselling author of The Monogram Murders and Woman with a Secret, on The Shut Eye

"The best crime novel I've read in a very long time."--Val McDermid, author of Queen Macbeth, on Snap

"Vividly real . . . Gripping to the end."--Kirkus Reviews on Snap

"The most original amateur sleuth I've come across all year is Patrick Fort, the young hero of Belinda Bauer's macabre mystery."--Marilyn Stasio, New York Times Book Review, on Rubbernecker

About the Author

Belinda Bauer is the award-winning author of ten novels that have been translated into twenty-one languages. She won the CWA Gold Dagger Award for Crime Novel of the Year for Blacklands, the Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award for Rubbernecker, and the CWA Dagger in the Library Award for outstanding body of work. Her novel Snap was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize. She lives in Wales.